Improvement in canceling-stam ps



W; KRUTZSGH. Canceling-Stamps.

No. 207,125. Patented Aug'. 20,1878. Y y

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".PETEZS. PHDTD-UTHOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON. UC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

VILLIAM KRUTZSOH, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO VILLIAM B. ANDERSON, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CANCELlNG-STAM PS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 207,125, dated August i0, 1878; application filed May 23, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KRUTzscH, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Gancelers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention has for its object the improved construction of a canceler for postage or other stamps, provided with vibrating cutters, which cut through the face of the stamp, and thus render it worthless and prevent its being reused.

My improvements consist in the construction of the device and in the arrangement of its parts, whereby simplicity, strength, and eiiiciency are obtained, as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure lis a central sectional view, in elevation, of my improved canceler. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vibrating cutters. Fig. 3 is a bottom-plan view of the canceler.

Corresponding letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawing, will fully explain the construction and operation of my device.

A is a short tube or cylinder, of brass or iron, threaded at its top to receive the wooden knob or handle B, which is screwed on, as represented in Fig. l. The top of the tube A is closed, but perforated by three diametrical apertures, c, Fig. 1, whose office will be eX- plained farther on. Within the cylinder A a second metallic tube or cylinder, C, is fitted, which has its top end closed by the screw-cap D. The bottom of this second tube, which is closed, is provided with four equidistant parallel ilanges, b, Figs. l and 3, between which are three apertures, c, opening into the tube. The bottom edges of these flan ges are slightly convex longitudinally.

In the upper end of the tube G is a short solid cylinder, E, having three parallel slots cut in its lower end, into which are respectively pivoted, at d, the three cutter-blades F, Figs. 1 and 2. The lower ends of these blades Vare shaped as seen in Fig. 2, and they enter the apertures c between the flanges b, Fin. 1.

The cylinder E, carrying the blades, is secured by a central screw, c, passed through the cap D, and screwed into the top of the cylinder, as represented. On each side of this central screw is a set-screw, f, bearing against the top of the cylinder E. These three screws are located directly under the three apertures a, so that access may be had to them by means of a screw-driver or properly-constructed key, and by means of them the adjustment of the cutters may be accurately regulated.

In the upper portion of each of the blades F is a segmental slot, g, Figs. l and 2, of the shape indicated. In the two outer blades these slots lie in the same direction. In the central blade the slot is in the opposite direction, Fig. 2.

H is a bolt secured in the cylinder A, and passed through longitudinal slots 'i in the cylinder G. This bolt also passes through the segmental slots inthe blades F. I is a at -coiled spring confined in the top of the tube A, and bearing against the top of the tube C, so as to keep it thrust out to the limit allowed by the slots 'L'.

The operation of the canceler is as follows: 1

By means of the screws c and f the cuttingedges lof the blades F are adjusted so as to be notquite llush with the flanges b-that is, not

to project beyond them, as in Fig. 1. It is only necessary now to hold the device vertically, and strike the stamp to be canceled a sharp blow, whereupon the tube C ascends into the case A, and the bolt H, confined in the segmental slots of the blades, causes the latter to vibrate across the lower face of the tube G between the ilanges b. This action of the cutters planes the surface of the stamp and effectually destroys it.

It is essential that the cutters should not- 2. In combination with the telescopic tubes A and C, the cylinder E, adj usted by the screws e and f, and the pivoted slotted vibrating cutter-blades arranged within the tube C, and having their cutting-edges confined between guide-flanges b, which project beyond them, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

Witness my hand this 9th day of May, A. D. 1878.

WILLIAM KRUTZSGH.

Vitnesse-s:

GHAs M. PECK, l). H. GUNCKEL. 

